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Silent Films

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:12 am
by Pedronicus
I tried yesterday to watch a film that I've never seen before, Nosferatu, because I thought I should see such a classic piece of cinema before I die, but could only manage 45 minutes before I gave up watching it.
The quality of the picture was piss poor (Metropolis was 4x sharper) but I don't think it was the picture quality that put me off.
The Actor playing Thomas Hutter was pretty shit - but I could deal with his theatrical over acting.
The non stop organ music throughout also drove me mad.
Max Schreck was good, but the film just couldn't hold my interest till the end.

I couldn't find the entire Metropolis film to watch, but even though it was only made 7 years later - it was much more watchable. Mind you it had a MASSIVE budget ($200 million in todays money) for the time.

I've never seen The General, so I can't comment on the other silent film that makes it into the top 3 silent films of all time.

But I was wondering if anyone else has ever watched a silent film all the way through in recent years that they have never seen before.

I used to, and still do, love watching Harold Lloyd - but slapstick works without the need for too much dialogue.
Do you think that old silent films are totally unwatchable???

if not - which silent film is unmissable and why?

Re: Silent Films

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:14 am
by InkL0sed
Pedronicus wrote:if not - which silent film is unmissable and why?


Honestly? I'd say Birth of a Nation

Re: Silent Films

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:16 am
by GabonX
Careful there...

Re: Silent Films

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:24 am
by Sackett58
Anything with Douglas Fairbanks is enjoyable. He did his own stunts so if you like a lot of acrobatics he is the one to watch. I have found Ben Hur very entertaining also.

Re: Silent Films

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:16 pm
by DAZMCFC
you can't go wrong with Harold Lloyd and did Buster Keaton do a feww silent ones?

Re: Silent Films

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:29 pm
by 2dimes
Sackett you may want to check the volume level on your audio system and watch Ben Hur again.

Re: Silent Films

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:26 pm
by Sackett58
2dimes wrote:Sackett you may want to check the volume level on your audio system and watch Ben Hur again.



Oh that's right, it has music. The 1925 version with Ramon Navarro and Francis X. Bushman, "Ben-Hur: A tale of the Christ" is what I meant.

Hey wait a minute, are you saying I'm old? :?

Re: Silent Films

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:31 pm
by 2dimes
Not really I was being daft and thinking you meant the one with Chuck in it.